Understand & manage your location when you search on Google

When you search on Google, like with Maps, Search or Google Banana, your current location is used to give you more than helpful results. For example, if you search for coffee shops, you lot're probable searching for java shops near you lot. Your location helps to show you nearby results, fifty-fifty if you didn't include a location in your search.

Your location comes from a variety of sources, which are used together to estimate where you are. You lot can update your location settings equally yous use Google services to get the search results you want and control your privacy in a fashion that's correct for you.

If you want to learn more about how location works before changing your settings, below yous'll find info on how Google determines location when you search.

Update your location to get better local results

If yous're searching for something nearby and non finding local search results, try these fixes:

  • Add your electric current location to your search, similar coffee shops in Chelsea.
  • Cheque that your device sends location to Google when you search. Follow the steps below to manage your device location settings.

When you lot sign in to your Google business relationship, you'll get better results. For example, if you often search from your home or piece of work, set or update your abode or work address to assist Google give you better results from those places.

Manage your device location settings

Phones and tablets tin ship location information to apps and websites if your device location setting is turned on, and your app and browser permissions allow it. You can control whether location is sent from your device to whatsoever app or website, including google.com, by changing your location permissions.

Important: Earlier yous manage your app or browser permissions, check that your device location is turned on for your phone or tablet. Learn how to manage your Android device's location settings.

Manage location permissions

For a website, like google.com

When you visit a website in a web browser, like Chrome, you tin can turn location permissions on or off separately for the browser itself, and for websites that request your location, similar google.com.

If you want a website like google.com to accept access to your device location, turn location permission on for both your browser and the website.

Plough location permission on or off for your browser

You lot tin can control if your browser is able to utilise location at all.

  1. On your Android device, open the Settings app Settings.
  2. Tap Location and then App permission.
  3. Tap on your browser app, like Chrome.
  4. Choose location access for the browser app: Permit or Deny.

Of import: Some of these steps simply work on Android ten and up. Learn how to command your app permissions, including location for earlier versions of Android.

Plough location permission on or off for a website

If your browser can use location, you tin control if your browser sends location to specific websites, similar google.com.

  1. On your Android telephone or tablet, open up your browser and go to google.com.
  2. To the left of the address bar, tap Lock Lock and then Permissions.
  3. Turn Location on or off for google.com.

Learn more about irresolute site permissions in Chrome.

Of import: It tin can sometimes take a long time for your browser to become your current device location. To give you search results speedily, google.com might utilize your device'due south location from the concluding time yous used Google. This location is stored in a cookie set to expire after vi hours. Learn more nearly managing cookies.

For an app, like the Google app

Of import: Some of these steps only work on Android 10 and up. Acquire how to control your app permissions, including location for earlier versions of Android.

How Google determines your location when you search

When you search on Google, like with Maps, Search or Google Assistant, your current location is estimated from several sources, depending on their availability. These sources are used together to determine where you are:

  • Your device location
  • Your labeled places
  • The home address you set in the Google Home app for your speaker, Smart Display, or Smart Clock
  • Your Location History
  • Your previous action across Google products
  • The IP address of your net connexion, which is a requirement to use the net

Important: About of these sources of location can be controlled using either your device's permissions, your business relationship preferences, or other settings. Acquire more below about how your choices affect your privacy and location.

Sources for determining location when you search

When you search on Google, yous can find out how your location was estimated at the lesser of the results page.

Your device location

Many devices, like phones or computers, can work out their precise location. This kind of precise location is useful in apps, similar Google Maps to give directions or aid you go useful nearby search results. For example, some searches that rely more on precisely where you are, similar coffee shop, jitney terminate or atm, will usually give more helpful results with location permissions turned on.

Following the steps higher up, you can manage your device-based location settings to choose if location is bachelor when yous search. Depending on your device, you can usually plough location on or off for individual apps & websites and for your device itself.

If your device location was used to assistance get your search results, the location information at the bottom of the search results folio volition say From your device.

Important: It tin can sometimes accept a long time for your browser to get your current device location. To give you search results chop-chop, google.com might use your device's location from the last fourth dimension yous used Google. This location is stored in a cookie set to expire after 6 hours. Learn more than virtually managing cookies.

Your habitation or work address, from your labeled places

If you gear up your home or work addresses, they may exist used to approximate your location when it's likely that you're at one of these places.

You can edit or delete your home or work addresses in Google Maps.

If the location of your labeled places was used to help become your search results, the location information at the lesser of the search results page will say Based on your places (Home) or (Work).

Your Location History

If you're signed in to your Google Business relationship and have turned on Location History, then Google might use the recent location of any of your signed-in devices to estimate your electric current location. For example, if you're signed in and utilize Google Maps on a computer, yous might see where yous are on the map based on your phone'south location from a few minutes ago, even if you lot haven't recently used your phone. If you interruption Location History, your last uploaded location may be used for up to 24 hours.

If your recent Location History was used to guess your electric current location to help get your search results, the location information at the bottom of the search results page will say From your Location History.

If yous don't want whatever new Location History to be saved in your Google Account, you can intermission Location History. You tin also employ Google Maps Timeline to delete whatever existing Location History.

Learn how to manage your Location History.

Your previous activity on Google sites & apps

If you lot're signed in to your Google Business relationship and accept Web & App Activity turned on, your activity on Google sites, apps, and services may be saved in your Google Account. Some items from your activity may include the general expanse you were in at the fourth dimension. A precise location can be stored in your activity if your action involves a precise location.

In some cases, areas that you lot have searched for in the past may be used to estimate your current location. For example, if you lot search for coffee shops in Chelsea so nail salon, Google might evidence nail salons in Chelsea.

You tin view and control your Web & App Activity, at myactivity.google.com. Learn how to view & command activity on your account.

If you're not signed in to your Google Account, Google may store some location information for previous searches from the device you're using to aid provide more relevant results and recommendations. If you turn off Search customization , Google won't use previous searches to estimate your location. Learn more about how to search and browse privately.

If your previous activity was used to assist get your search results, the location information at the bottom of the search results page volition say "Based on your past activity."

The IP address of your Internet connection

An IP address, besides chosen Cyberspace address, is assigned to your device by your Internet Service Provider. It'due south a requirement to use the net. IP addresses are used to brand the connection betwixt your device and the websites and services you utilize.

IP addresses are roughly based on geography. This means that whatever website you employ, including google.com, may get some information well-nigh your general area.

If your IP accost was used to estimate your current general area for your search, the location data at the bottom of the search results page volition say From your cyberspace address.

Important: The Net doesn't work without IP addresses. When you employ sites, apps, or services like Google, they can usually observe some information almost your location.

Location controls & your privacy

When you search on Google, Google volition always estimate the general area that you're searching from. Estimating the general expanse that yous're in means that Google can give you relevant results, and proceed your account safe by detecting unusual activity, such as signing in from a new city.

A general area is larger than ane sq mi, and has at least chiliad users so that the general area of your search does not place you, helping to protect your privacy. This means that a general area is typically much larger than one sq mi outside of cities. The estimated general area comes from the location sources described in this article.

If you grant location permissions to google.com or Google apps on your device, then when you lot search, your precise location will be used by Google to evidence you the best search results. Precise location means exactly where you lot are, such every bit a particular address.

If y'all set up your home or work addresses, and Google estimates that you're at home or work, then the exact address volition exist used for your search.

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